U.S. patent application number 10/848832 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-25 for chair with swing-out footrest.
This patent application is currently assigned to STANZWERK WETTER SICHELSCHMIDT GmbH & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Kristen, Martin.
Application Number | 20040232741 10/848832 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40810023 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040232741 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kristen, Martin |
November 25, 2004 |
Chair with swing-out footrest
Abstract
A chair has a frame, a main link having an inner end pivoted on
the frame about an inner axis fixed relative to the frame and an
outer end defining an outer axis parallel to the inner axis. An
outer arm has an inner end pivoted at the outer axis on the outer
axis of the main link and an outer end carrying a footrest. An
inner wheel is fixed nonrotatably on the frame at the inner axis,
and an outer wheel is fixed nonrotatably on the inner end of the
outer arm at the outer axis. A chain, belt, or the like connected
to both of the wheels couples same together for joint synchronous
rotation. A drive can pivot the main link about the inner axis and
thereby pivot the outer arm about the outer axis.
Inventors: |
Kristen, Martin;
(Gelsenkirchen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE FIRM OF KARL F ROSS
5676 RIVERDALE AVENUE
PO BOX 900
RIVERDALE (BRONX)
NY
10471-0900
US
|
Assignee: |
STANZWERK WETTER SICHELSCHMIDT GmbH
& CO. KG
|
Family ID: |
40810023 |
Appl. No.: |
10/848832 |
Filed: |
May 18, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/68 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/506 20130101;
A47C 7/5068 20180801 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/068 |
International
Class: |
A47C 001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 19, 2003 |
DE |
10322795.4 |
Dec 10, 2003 |
DE |
20319123.4 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A chair comprising: a frame; a main link having an inner end
pivoted on the frame about an inner axis fixed relative to the
frame and an outer end defining an outer axis parallel to the inner
axis; an outer arm having an inner end pivoted at the outer axis on
the outer axis of the main link and having an outer end; a foot
rest on the outer-arm outer end; an inner wheel fixed nonrotatably
on the frame at the inner axis; an outer wheel fixed nonrotatably
on the inner end of the outer arm at the outer axis; connecting
means connected to both of the wheels for coupling same together
for joint synchronous rotation; and drive means for pivoting the
main link about the inner axis and thereby pivoting the outer arm
about the outer axis.
2. The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the frame is generally
symmetrical to a central upright plane, the main link lying
generally on the plane.
3. The chair defined in claim 2 wherein the arm is comprised of a
pair of parallel arm elements offset from and symmetrically
flanking the plane.
4. The chair defined in claim 3, further comprising a shaft on the
outer axis fixed to the outer wheel and having ends projecting from
the link outer end and fixed in the arm elements.
5. The chair defined in claim 4, further comprising respective
shield tubes fixed to the main link and coaxially surrounding the
shaft ends between the main link and the arm elements.
6. The chair defined in claim 2 wherein the main link is formed by
a pair of confronting shells extending between the inner and outer
axes and forming a cavity holding the wheels and the connecting
means.
7. The chair defined in claim 6 wherein the main link further has a
bracket fixed between the inner and outer axes to the shells, the
drive means being connected to the bracket.
8. The chair defined in claim 1 wherein the drive means includes an
extensible actuator having one end pivoted on the frame and an
opposite end operatively engaged with the main link between the
axes.
9. The chair defined in claim 8, further comprising a drive link
pivoted on the opposite end of the actuator and on the main link
between the inner and outer axes.
10. The chair defined in claim 9, further comprising a control arm
having an end pivoted on the frame and another arm pivoted at the
opposite end of the actuator.
11. The chair defined in claim 1, further comprising a shaft
extending along the inner axis, the main link being fixed at its
inner end to the shaft; and a pair of axially spaced arms fixed to
the frame and rotatably carrying the shaft, the inner wheel being
fixed to one of the pair of arms.
12. The chair defined in claim 1, further comprising a footrest
cushion; and a releasable coupling securing the cushion to the
outer end of the main link.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a chair. More particularly
this invention concerns a chair with a swing-out footrest.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A recliner chair has a footrest that can move between a
retracted position extending vertically and tucked underneath a
front edge of the seat cushion and an extended position extending
horizontally and positioned in front of and generally level with
the seat cushion. The footrest moves into the extended position as
other elements of the chair's mechanism tilt the chairs backrest
rearwardly and normally also lower a rear end of the seat cushion
or raise its front end.
[0003] The standard mechanism for shifting the footrest is formed
by a pair of horizontally spaced scissor linkages having unequal
legs to effect the arcuate and twisting movement of the footrest.
These linkages have to be identical and function identically to
ensure smooth movement of the footrest.
[0004] Not only are these scissor linkages fairly complex so that
they add considerably to the cost of the chair, but they present a
real danger of pinching the user or the user's clothing. It is
critical to keep anything delicate out of contact with the scissor
linkages since they can damage or, at the very least, dirty
anything that gets touches or gets tangled in them.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an improved recliner chair with a swing-out footrest.
[0006] Another object is the provision of such an improved recliner
chair with a swing-out footrest which overcomes the above-given
disadvantages, that is whose footrest-operating mechanism is
simple, inexpensive, and safe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A chair has according to the invention a frame, a main link
having an inner end pivoted on the frame about an inner axis fixed
relative to the frame and an outer end defining an outer axis
parallel to the inner axis. An outer arm has an inner end pivoted
at the outer axis on the outer axis of the main link and an outer
end carrying a footrest. An inner wheel is fixed nonrotatably on
the frame at the inner axis, and an outer wheel is fixed
nonrotatably on the inner end of the outer arm at the outer axis. A
chain, belt, or the like connected to both of the wheels couples
same together for joint synchronous rotation. A drive can pivot the
main link about the inner axis and thereby pivot the outer arm
about the outer axis.
[0008] With this system the mechanism can, according to another
feature of the invention, be restricted to a region lying on a
generally symmetrical central symmetry plane of the chair. Thus the
main link lies on the plane so that it is largely out of the way of
the user, and does not need to be made in two identical
arrangements as the main link can be robust enough to support the
foot rest.
[0009] According to the invention arm is comprised of a pair of
parallel arm elements offset from and symmetrically flanking the
plane, but still lying fairly close to the plane and well inward
out of the outer bounds of the chair. A shaft on the outer axis is
fixed to the outer wheel and has ends projecting from the link
outer end and fixed in the arm elements. Respective shield tubes
fixed to the main link coaxially surround the shaft ends between
the main link and the arm elements.
[0010] In addition in accordance with the invention the main link
is formed by a pair of confronting shells extending between the
inner and outer axes and forming a cavity holding the wheels and
the connecter between them. This main link further has a bracket
fixed between the inner and outer axes to the shells. The drive is
connected to the bracket. Thus all the moving parts for the foot
rest are enclosed so that they cannot pinch or dirty the user of
the chair.
[0011] The drive includes an extensible actuator having one end
pivoted on the frame and an opposite end operatively engaged with
the main link between the axes. A drive link is pivoted on the
opposite end of the actuator and on the main link between the inner
and outer axes. Furthermore a control arm has an end pivoted on the
frame and another arm pivoted at the opposite end of the actuator.
This control arm forces the point at which it, the actuator, and
the drive link are pivoted together to move in an arc.
[0012] According to a further feature of the invention, a shaft
extends along the inner axis. The main link is fixed at its inner
end to the shaft, and a pair of axially spaced arms is fixed to the
frame and rotatably carries the shaft. The inner wheel is fixed to
one of the pair of arms.
[0013] To prevent a person from being injured when the footrest is
retracted, the footrest cushion is mounted via a releasable
coupling to the outer end of the main link.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0014] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will
become more readily apparent from the following description,
reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:
[0015] FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are side sectional views showing the
mechanism of the chair according to the invention in retracted,
partially extended, and fully extended positions, the upholstered
parts of the chair being omitted for clarity of view;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a top view of the foot-rest mechanism in the
fully-extended position;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a side view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 4;
and
[0018] FIG. 6 is a view of a detail of the foot rest.
SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION
[0019] As seen in FIGS. 1 to 5, a chair according to the invention
has a stationary frame or base 1 generally symmetrical to a central
vertical plane P and having a pair of side base plates 2
symmetrically flanking the plane P below a seat plate 3. A back 4
projects upward from a rear end of the seat plate 3. The seat plate
3 and back 4 can also move, but their movements are not relevant to
the instant invention.
[0020] A footrest 5 is carried on a mounting plate 18 at an outer
end of a pair of arms 8 that symmetrically flank the plane P and
that have inner ends pivoted about an outer axis 27 of a rigid arm
7 lying on the plane P and having an inner end fixed at an inner
axis 28 on a shaft 22 pivoted on arms 21 and 23 fixed to the frame
1. A gear wheel 6 centered on the inner axis 28 is fixed
nonrotatably on the frame 1 and an identical outer gear 9 is
rotatable about the outer axis 27 at the outer end of the link 7.
The gear 9 is fixed to a shaft 19 projecting in both directions
along the axis 27 from the link 7 and having outer ends fixed to
the inner ends of the arms 8. A chain 10 is engaged over the gear
wheels 7 and 9 so that they are coupled together for joint
synchronous rotation. Instead of the chain 10 and gears 7 and 9, it
would be possible to use a toothed belt and pulleys. Alternately a
gear train could replace the chain 10. One or two spring-loaded
cables spanned over two wheels could also be used to hold the outer
wheel 9 in the same angular position relative to the inner wheel 6
regardless of the angular position of the link 7.
[0021] This link 7 is actually formed by two elongated shells 11
open toward each other and flanking a central bracket 17 securing
them together and lying between the reaches of the chain 10. This
prevents the user of the chair from direct contact with the gears 7
and 9 and the chain 10. Similarly a pair of tubes 20 fixed to the
outer end of the link 7 coaxially surround the shaft 10 between the
link 7 and the arms 8 to prevent contact with this shaft 19.
[0022] An actuator 13 that can be powered electrically,
hydraulically, or pneumatically has an output element 16 pivoted to
an inner end of a link 12 whose outer end is pivoted at an axis 29
to the link 7 at the bracket 17 between the axes 27 and 28. A crank
arm 15 has an inner end pivoted at 14 on the base 1 and an outer
end pivoted at 29 on the element 16 and link 12 to force this axis
29 to move along an arcuate path as the element 16 moves out (to
the left in FIGS. 1 to 3) and in (to the right in FIGS. 1 to
3).
[0023] FIG. 7 shows how an upholstered footrest cushion 24 is
provided with a pair of mounting rods 26 (only one shown) that fit
in clips 25 carried on the footrest support 18. Thus if a user's
leg gets caught between the footrest cushion 24 and the base 1 when
the footrest 5 is being lowered, the cushion 24 will disconnect
from the support 18 and not injure the user.
* * * * *